Chapter 494 Everyone’s Being Played

Freya must have already been waiting outside the west wing when Carl made the call. She gave an awkward smile but didn’t say anything. Only after Wyatt walked past her did she quickly step into the living room and ask the housekeeper where Yunice’s room was.

“Yunice?” Freya turned the doorknob and peeked inside.

Yunice looked surprised. “Freya? How did you get here so fast?”

Freya came in and shut the door behind her. Sitting at the edge of Yunice’s bed, she took in her pale complexion and asked with concern, “You really have a fever?”

Yunice nodded. “Yeah.”

Freya let out a breath. “Good thing nothing happened. Yesterday, you and Wyatt both disappeared without a word. No one could reach either of you. We were all worried.”

Recalling Wyatt’s warning before he left, Yunice rubbed her nose and said, “Yesterday, Wyatt got into a fight with Jackson from the Powell family. They started throwing punches. I got scared and ended up with a fever…”

“You scare that easily?”

Yunice lowered her head, embarrassed.

Freya tilted her head, eyes fixed on the red marks on Yunice’s neck. After a pause, she asked hesitantly, “Even with a fever, he still messed with you?”

“Huh?” Yunice didn’t follow.

Freya pointed to her neck. “That wasn’t there last night.”

It was obvious when it had happened, and in such a visible spot. Yunice’s face flushed red, and she covered her neck with one hand.

Freya pointed to her own collarbone. “There’s one here too.”

Yunice covered that spot with her other hand.

“And here…” Freya pointed lower, under the collar.

Yunice ran out of hands and realized–Freya was teasing her. She looked up, flustered and a little annoyed.

Freya laughed at her expression and patted her shoulder. “I just don’t get why a guy like Wyatt would go for someone like you–so soft and fluffy, like a little cupcake.”

Yunice’s heart sank. “We really don’t match?”

Freya gave a long, thoughtful hum, like she was trying to find an answer for her. Then she said, “Maybe you just hit his kink. Maybe you’re exactly his type.”

Yunice shifted her posture, looking at Freya seriously. “How can you tell he actually likes me?”

Freya blinked, not quite sure why she was asking. But she gave it some thought anyway. “He doesn’t have any family restrictions. He’s powerful enough on his own–doesn’t need to marry for advantage. If he likes someone, he just takes them. No need to fake anything. No reason to pretend.”

But Yunice thought–there were reasons. Wyatt had once had a thing with Nora. He never got the chance to have her, so now he used Yunice to fill that void. She was Wyatt’s emotional projection.

But most people wouldn’t think that far. Yunice didn’t mention Nora to Freya.

Wyatt had promised to take her to see Nora. She wanted to understand the truth for herself.

After teasing Yunice, Freya started talking about what happened after she left the Crawford house last night.

Carl was ruthless. And Victor wasn’t a soft touch either. These men might look sharp and refined in the daytime, but once night fell, they didn’t hesitate to get their hands bloody.

Last night, Paul didn’t get thrown into the moat–but they did toss him into the Crawford family pool, tied up in a sack. Every time he was about to drown, Victor would pull him out, have the doctor save him, and throw him right back in.

Yunice asked, “What if he really died?”

Freya smiled. “Then that’s just bad luck for him.” She added, “But I kinda admire that Elsie girl.”

“When Paul fell in, she threw herself into the water crying her eyes out, trying to untie him. Paul was so touched.”

“We were moved too. So we tied them together, back to back, and sank them both.”

Yunice muttered, “You people are demons.”

Freya didn’t take it seriously. She checked the time. “Wyatt should be at the Crawford house by now.”

“Mr. Carl spared Paul’s life. He doesn’t matter, but before he dies, he’s gotta clear your name.”

Meanwhile, at the Crawford house...

Luxury cars lined the courtyard. Rows of chairs were set up in the main hall. A few people were already seated.

Then someone else entered from outside, silhouetted against the light. As the man walked closer and his face came into view, someone greeted him. “Eugene? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be abroad?”

Eugene gave the others a confused look, then sat down hesitantly. “Mr. Carl invited you all too?”

“He said he wanted to discuss a project. So we came.”

“Come to think of it, we haven’t seen each other in six or seven years–not since the SATs.”

As they chatted, more people trickled in.

Once enough people had arrived, someone finally sensed something was off. “What kind of project needs this many people?”

And all of them… were mutual friends.